People react as they gather to perform funeral prayers for leading Bangladeshi activist Sharif Osman Hadi, who died from gunshot wounds sustained in an attack in Dhaka earlier this month, outside the nation’s Parliament complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: AP) Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said he would carry forward the ideals of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical leader known for his anti-India stance, speaking at Hadi’s funeral in front of thousands of mourners.
Addressing the crowd, Yunus said the gathering was not a farewell but a promise to continue what Hadi stood for.
“We have not come here to bid you farewell. You are within our hearts, and as long as Bangladesh exists, you will remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis,” Yunus said, according to The Daily Star.
He said Hadi’s ideas would be carried forward beyond the present generation.
“What you told us, we will fulfil. Not only us, but generation after generation of people of Bangladesh will fulfil this promise,” Yunus said.
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Yunus praised Hadi’s approach to public life and politics, saying many people admired his way of engaging with others.
“Your love for humanity, your way of living and interacting with people, and your political outlook are being praised by everyone,” he said, as quoted by The Daily Star.
Hadi, 32, rose to prominence during the 2024 student uprising that led to the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. He was shot in the head by masked attackers last week while launching his election campaign in Dhaka and later died during treatment in a hospital in Singapore.
Police said suspects had been identified and suggested they may have fled to India, where Hasina has been living in exile. The claim has led to diplomatic tensions, with both New Delhi and Dhaka summoning each other’s envoys.
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Following Hadi’s death, protests broke out in Dhaka and other cities, with demonstrators demanding the arrest of those responsible. Some protests later turned violent, with buildings set on fire, according to reports.
Yunus said Hadi’s teachings would continue to guide public life in Bangladesh. “You will remain with us for ages, reminding us again and again of your message,” he said, The Daily Star reported.